Galley Museum, Mining history museum in Queenstown, Tasmania

The Galley Museum occupies a former hotel building and displays around 30 exhibition rooms filled with photographs and mining equipment. These collections tell the story of the region's mining operations through objects and visual records.

The building was erected in 1897 as the Imperial Hotel, not as a museum. It later served as a mining office and a youth hostel before becoming the Eric Thomas Galley Museum. Its collections hold records and relics from the west coast mining communities, including extensive material on the 1912 North Mount Lyell mining disaster.

The displays feature everyday items and personal belongings that belonged to people living in mining communities. These objects give visitors a sense of how miners and their families actually lived day to day.

The building is accessible and located centrally in Queenstown, making it easy to reach and explore. Visitors can navigate the grounds without difficulty and take their time viewing the displays at their own pace.

The collection features photographs taken by Eric Thomas, who documented the last remnants of abandoned mines and settlements on Tasmania's west coast. These images capture places that no longer exist in the same way, offering a rare look at sites most visitors would never otherwise see.